Mini-Cog Test for Dementia

First have the patient repeat 3 unrelated words a few times to ensure immediate memory. Then go on with your history or physical for 3 minutes, & assess 3-minute recall:

Recalls 3 out of 3 = No dementia

Recalls 0 out of 3 = Dementia

Recalls 1 or 2 out of 3 means you go on to Clock-Drawing

Draw a circle for the patient. Then, ask them to do the following:

Write in the numbers 1-12

Draw the hands for either of two times: 11:10, or 8:20.

If the drawing is correct for both the numbers & times, there’s No Dementia. If either is incorrect, in the context of also having missed 1-2 of the 3-word recall, it’s Dementia.

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In terms of the 3-word recall, the following groups have been validated:

Banana – Sunrise – Chair

Daughter – Heaven – Mountain

Village – Kitchen – Baby

River – Nation – Finger

Captain – Garden – Picture

Leader – Season – Table

If you’re speaking to a patient in a foreign language, pick a group for which you’re sure your translation employs common vernacular. For example, in Spanish, the word for “sunrise” can vary enormously depending on what part of what country a person comes from.

In terms of Clock-Drawing, be sure there’s no clock visible to the patient. Allow no more than 3 minutes to complete the task. Refusal to draw the clock counts as “incorrect”.